Only Bill Maher, the star of Comedy Central's Politically Incorrect and a regular guest on The Tonight Show, could have written True Story...so he did. The place: New York. The time: the early 1980s. The scene: the red-hot comedy clubs, very late at night. The cast: five would-be stand-up comics, their egos, and their girls. The result: a downright hilarious novel about trying to be funny for fame, fortune, and fornication. This is Bill Maher's report from the front, a stageside table at the birth of the comedy boom. You'll laugh in all the right places.
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"Mostly pretty funny. Good job (as far as I know) of describing what it's like to be a stand-up comic in the late 70's/early 80's. But jeez there's way too much of boys chasing girls in it. Some story lines not quite completed or explained." — Yofish (4 out of 5 stars)
"Mostly pretty funny. Good job (as far as I know) of describing what it's like to be a stand-up comic in the late 70's/early 80's. But jeez there's way too much of boys chasing girls in it. Some story lines not quite completed or explained."
" Excruciatingly bad. The characters are named (really, they are) Fat, Buck, Chink, Shit and I don't remember the rest. Dreadful. "
" i think i need to start reading books only written by comedians. "
" I listened to the audiobook which was a mistake I guess. I either fell asleep or it didn't download properly because I didn't quite follow it and it wasn't as funny as I normally expect of anything by Bill Maher. And, I thought there was going to way more sex in it. Bummer. "
" A novel about a group of aspiring stand-up comics. Bill Maher should be commended for so accurately revealing the inner workings of the male mind. It isn't pretty (and is probably shocking to females) but this damned near perfectly captures how we think when it comes to sex, sex, sex! "
" Funny novel about "professional comedians" with widely varied personalities. Some of the jokes that the characters find funny are not, but there's plenty of humor, romance, and surprise to keep you entertained. "
" A clever and hilarious take on life in the trenches of stand-up comedy. "
" It's just funny, that's all. I'd give it 3 and half stars if I could...and I'd read it again in a few years when I can't remember it anymore, as is the case with almost everything I read. :) "
" Bill, I love ya, man, but stick to non-fiction. Goodnight everybody, be good to your waitress, try the veal! "
" Sketches the specific (birth of the standup comedy scene) and the universal (dealing with arrested adolescence) with surprising economy and grace. "
" Don't get me wrong, I adore Bill Maher, but this book was humor mostly above my head. I may try it again in future. "
" I wish I could give this book less than one star. It's truly, truly, a horrible waste of paper. One of the worst books I have ever had the misfortune of opening. "
" Not overwhelming good but a somewhat honest and surprising stab at novelistic story telling from the man I usually only rely on yo call people out on their bullshit. "
Bill Maher built his reputation of biting humor and social commentary in stand-up comedy before entering the late-night television arena as the host of Politically Incorrect, a raucous celebrity forum that originated on Comedy Central. He has created many comedy specials, garnering numerous Emmy nominations. Expanding into other media, he has hosted HBO’s Real Time, produced a highly successful documentary, and authored several books about his experience and political views.
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